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Academic Challenges

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) offers a number of supports for students facing challenges in their academic pursuits.

If you need to miss some coursework (eg, assignment or exam), you can submit an Academic Consideration Request (ACR) through the Senate portal. You can access the  Academic Consideration Request (ACR) system (opens in new window)  through the Senate (opens in new window)  webpage (click the “Online Academic Consideration Requests [ACR] for students” button to access the portal). An ACR can be submitted in advance of the work that you will be missing, or up to 3 business days after the work is due.

IMPORTANT: Students are encouraged to contact each course instructor via email as soon as possible to let them know about their situation.

Different supporting documentation will need to be submitted through the Senate Portal, depending on the situation:

  • If the request is for compassionate reasons, there isn't an official form. You can attach any official supporting documentation to which you have access (e.g., police report. obituary, etc). If no supporting documentation is available, an explanatory letter can be submitted. An explanatory letter must clearly state the reasons for the request and describe the events or circumstances that seriously impaired your ability to meet your academic obligations, and that were beyond your control.

There is also a once-per-semester option to submit a request with no documentation. However, this request must be submitted within 3 business days of the missed evaluation, may only cover an absence of 3 days or fewer, and may not be used for a missed final exam or final assessment. It's best to save this for when you have a challenge getting the required supporting documentation, keeping in mind that this once-per-semester no-documentation ACR cannot be used on a final exam or final assignment, as mentioned.
If the appropriate form is not submitted, it could delay or prevent your request from being processed.

If your ACR is approved, you will receive an automated email response, at which point you can follow up with your instructor(s) to make arrangements for any outstanding coursework.

You can refer to Policy 167: Academic Consideration (opens in new window)  as well as Policy 135: Final Examinations  (opens in new window) for more information.

You can email the Psychology Undergraduate Administrative team at psychundergrad@torontomu.ca if you have any questions about the ACR process.

If you are finding it challenging to develop good study habits, the following resources may be of use.

Academic Support Coaches for Arts: Arts Academic Support Coaches are available to help you improve your writing and develop vital academic skills. They can meet you online or in person - all you need to do is book an appointment!

You can meet them at any stage of the writing process - from brainstorming to polishing final drafts, we can help you. You can also visit to chat about academic skills, like time management or exam preparation.

For more information and to book an appointment, click here (opens in new window) .

TMU Library: The Library offers one-hour free workshops  (opens in new window) to improve your ability to find and integrate outside sources required for your academic research and essays. They also offer support for Scholarly, Research and Creative activities (opens in new window) , such as information on copyright and Subject Librarians (bottom 2 items on page).

Student Learning Support (SLS): SLS is a group of services and programs aimed at helping students engage more effectively in their academic studies. Services include Writing Support (opens in new window)  and Study Skills and Transition Support (opens in new window) .

Thriving in Action Online (TiAO): TiAO is a student wellness toolkit that provides accessible, non-prescriptive support with many entry points to well-being, like its in-person parent initiative, Thriving in Action. You can access modules relating to different aspects of student life by visiting Thriving in Action Online  (opens in new window) (you will need to sign in using your Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) ID).

If you are struggling due to stress, the following resources may be of use.

The Centre for Student Development & Counselling (CSDC): The CSDC (opens in new window)  offers free, confidential counselling services to Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students in a professional and friendly environment.

Student Affairs: Student Affairs (opens in new window)  at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is a team of educators, learners, and professionals dedicated to supporting you at every stage of your journey at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). They provide academic, professional, and personal development opportunities and support programs to all students in a variety of formats, including online, in workshops and 1:1 appointments, through peer support and professional advising, and in partnership with your Faculty and other campus partners.

The University acknowledges and celebrates the diversity of its students and is committed to addressing these barriers to enhance an accessible educational environment and equality of opportunities, benefits, privileges, and participation through the provision of accommodations that maintain academic standards.

Students are encouraged to review the Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities - Policy 159 (opens in new window) . The policy emphasizes awareness in addressing the barriers that some students face, including ableism, in the learning environment and encourages collaboration and shared responsibility in the accommodation process.

Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) (opens in new window)  is your accessibility services office. It offers academic accommodation support to students with disabilities (e.g., learning disabilities, sensory impairments, ADHD, mental health, medical and mobility issues).  

AAS works with any student enrolled at the university who requires academic disability accommodation, regardless of program or course load. You can begin the registration process as soon as your TMU identity (including your university email) is activated, generally one month before the first day of classes. For more information on how to get your email account, visit Student Accounts. (opens in new window)  For more information on AAS, please visit the Academic Accommodation Support (opens in new window)  webpage. 

If you decide you want to drop a course in which you are enrolled, you can follow the instructions outlined on the Office of the Ombudsperson (opens in new window)  page. It is in your best interest to drop the course sooner rather than later to ensure you get a full or partial refund. Check Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Significant Dates (opens in new window)  for drop dates for TMU courses, including the final date to drop a course without impacting your academic standing.

If you are taking Chang School courses, keep in mind that the drop dates will be different. Check Chang School Important Dates (opens in new window)  for details. For example, the last day to drop a Chang School course and receive a full refund is 5 business days in advance of the first day of class.

Course drops can be completed by using the Drop Class feature (opens in new window)  within MyServiceHub.

NOTE: Remember to check your schedule in MyServiceHub after dropping your course to verify that the courses were successfully dropped.

OSAP students should know that dropping courses may impact loans and the ability to maintain good academic standing with OSAP. Visit OSAP Academic Probation and Restriction (opens in new window)  and OSAP Frequently Asked Questions (opens in new window)  for more information.

Award recipients should be aware that scholarships and bursaries may have conditions to maintain a certain course load.

Entrance Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in an 80% course load (four or more billing units) in both fall and winter terms to maintain their scholarship. Therefore, withdrawing or dropping a course could result in an Entrance Scholarship being forfeited for the current academic year under the terms and conditions of the scholarship awarded. For more information, please refer to the Entrance Scholarship FAQ (opens in new window) .

A cancelled scholarship may result in a fee being applied to the student’s university fee account (opens in new window) .

International students should check if dropping a course will change their status from full-time to part-time. This change could affect their immigration status in Canada now and in the future. Please review the full-time enrolment definition for immigration purposes (opens in new window)  to understand the requirements for part-time and full-time status.

If you withdraw from your studies, it will affect your immigration status in Canada.

Before you drop a course or withdraw from a program, please contact the International Student Support office (opens in new window)  about it. They can help you understand what this might mean for you.

If you have been assigned a probationary contract, the contract may require that you complete a specific course or specify your required course load. You may need permission from your program department to drop a course. If you have questions, please email psychundergrad@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) .

Students can request to have their final grade reviewed, using a grade appeal process, if they believe that situations arose during the semester that had a serious impact on their ability to meet academic obligations. Before submitting a grade appeal, students are strongly encouraged to communicate with their instructor.

If you are unable to come to a satisfactory resolution, you have the option to appeal the grade. You can find instructions on the Senate's Appeal (opens in new window)  page.

Students who believe that a grade in a course component, either in whole or part, does not reflect the academic merit of their work should contact their faculty/contract lecturer in writing within ten (10) business days of the date when the graded work in question is returned to the class, or when the grade on the work is posted.

Students are encouraged to review Policy 162: Grade Reassessment and Grade Recalculation (opens in new window)  and review the procedure section of the policy for detailed steps. Students can also seek assistance from their program advisor by emailing psychundergrad@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) .

If you are unable to come to a satisfactory resolution, you have the option to appeal the grade. You can find instructions on the Senate's Appeal (opens in new window)  page.

Students who believe that there has been an arithmetical error (e.g. due to an omission, improper addition) in calculating the grade on an individual course component, or their final course grade, should contact their faculty/contract lecturer in writing within ten (10) business days of the date when the graded work in question is returned to the class, or when the grade on the work is posted. 

Students are encouraged to review Policy 162: Grade Reassessment and Grade Recalculation (opens in new window)  and review the procedure section of the policy for detailed steps. Students can also seek assistance from their program advisor by emailing psychundergrad@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) .

If you are unable to come to a satisfactory resolution, you have the option to appeal the grade. You can find instructions on the Senate's Appeal (opens in new window)  page.

If you fail a course or get a low grade, you have the option to repeat the course up to two times to improve your grade. You can find more information on course repeats in the Repeating Courses section of the GPA Calculation (opens in new window)  page.

If you want to replace the grade but do not want to repeat the same class, you can take a different course from the same course table and submit a GPA Adjustment form (external link, opens in new window)  (this does not apply to required courses); if a student fails a required course, they must re-take that course.